Buddy Baker, NASCAR's 'Gentle Giant,' dies at 74

Buddy Baker, who announced last month he had inoperable lung cancer, died early Monday morning at 74.

Baker, known as NASCAR's 'Gentle Giant' as he towered over most of his competitors at 6-foot-6, won the 1980 Daytona 500, was a NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee and was named one of its 50 greatest drivers in 1998.

SiriusXM NASCAR Radio announced his death. Baker left his co-host slot on ''The Late Shift'' just last month after announcing he had a ''huge tumor'' in his lung.

"Do not shed a tear. Give a smile when you say my name. I'm not saying goodbye. Just talk to you later," Baker said as he signed off.